Eucalyptus plant named ‘Rengun’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Eucalyptus  cultivar named ‘Rengun’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive small, Grey-Green foliage. Plants have a distinctive bushy growth habit, form small to medium sized shrubby trees. The new cultivar is a  Eucalyptus , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Eucalyptus gunnii.

Variety denomination: ‘Rengun’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery by the inventor. Thisnew variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘Rengun’, was discovered as anaturally occurring, whole plant mutation by the inventor, Jean Renault.The interesting new mutation was discovered in a commercial nursery inGorron, France among a population of unpatented Eucalyptus gunnii duringApril of 2009.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interestingselection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘Rengun’ byvegetative cuttings at the same commercial nursery during May of 2011.The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessingstability of the unique characteristics of this variety. At least fivegenerations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique featuresof this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Rengun’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Rengun’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Rengun’ as a new and distinct Eucalyptus cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique small foliage:    -   2. Dense, bushy growth.    -   3. Small to moderately sized shrubby tree.    -   4. Grey-Green leaf color.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘Rengun’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the parentvariety Eucalyptus gunnii. Plants of the new cultivar ‘Rengun’ however,differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety grow more slowly.    -   2. Plants of the new variety have smaller leaves.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are shorter.    -   4. Plants of the parent variety are more upright and less bushy        than the new variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Rengun’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to thecommercial variety Eucalyptus gunnii ‘Azura’, unpatented. Plants of thenew cultivar ‘Rengun’ however, differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety are significantly shorter than        plants of ‘Azura’.    -   2. Plants of the new variety have much smaller leaves.    -   3. Plants of the new variety produce foliage with a different        shape.    -   4. Plants of new variety produce foliage of a less blue        coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color threetypical plants of ‘Rengun’ grown outdoors in Angers, France. The plantsare approximately 1.5 years old, and is shown growing in approximately 2liter containers.

FIG. 2 illustrates a single plant, of approximately 2.5 years.

FIG. 3 shows a close up of typical foliage of the new variety.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Rengun’ plants grown outdoors in Angers,France. Plants are approximately 3 years old, in a 5 liter nurserycontainer. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Eucalyptus gunnii ‘Rengun’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: Approximately 150 days at    approximately 18° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, very well branched. Colored near RHS    Brown N200C.-   Typical propagation method: Tissue culture or softwood cuttings.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, well branched shrubby tree.-   Height: 1 meter.-   Plant spread: 0.70 m.-   Overall plant shape: Loosely globular, bushy, especially near base.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Trunk color: Grey-Brown 199 A.-   Trunk diameter: Average 2 cm.-   Trunk texture: Smooth.-   Internode length: Approximately 2.5 cm.-   Branching characteristics:    -   -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 0.4 cm for            primary branches (after pinching). Approximately 0.1 cm for            secondary branching (unpinched growth).        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—Approximately 10 primary            branches.        -   Texture of lateral branches.—Smooth.        -   Color of lateral branches.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Aspect and angle.—Straight primary branches, occurring at            approximately 55° angle, from base, secondary branches occur            at wide angles, approximately 90 to 135 degrees from primary            stems.        -   Strength of lateral branches.—Rigid and woody at base, soft            and flexible further along branches.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Average length.—Approximately 2 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Somewhat irregular elliptic.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Blunt.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Non pubescent, somewhat foveate.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Leaf internode length.—Average range 0.5 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N138C,            overlay coloration Greyed-Green 188C. Young foliage under            side: Near RHS Green N138C, overlay coloration Greyed-Green            188B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N138C,            overlay coloration Greyed-Green 190B. Mature foliage under            side: Near Green RHS N138C, overlay coloration Greyed-Green            190B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color: Indistinguishable            from foliage color.

FLOWER

-   Flowering not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility    observed.-   Drought tolerance: Moderate tolerance for drought, requires at least    minimum Summer watering.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to at least −10°    C., high temperature tolerance to at least 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Eucalyptus plantnamed ‘Rengun’ as herein illustrated and described.